Reservations are required for all programs and must be made at least 2 weeks (10 business days) in advance. To reserve group programs, email njsm.reservations@sos.nj.gov. Many programs have minimum group sizes for participation; see specific program details for group size requirements.

The Museum requests 1 chaperone per 10 students, to be included in your group count. Chaperones are require to have paid seats in the Planetarium and for Live Theater.

All completed reservations will receive a confirmation and an invoice. If you did not receive these forms please follow up to make sure the reservation was completed. Confirmations contain important information for your visit including bus parking and Museum rules. Please distribute this information to all chaperones and bus drivers.

If you must cancel your field trip, please email njsm.reservations@sos.nj.gov as soon as possible. No refunds will be made if payment has already been processed. However, we will work with you to reschedule your visit, apply payment to a virtual program or receive credit to be used the following school year.

Please Note: All in-person programs are subject to change per COVID-19 health and safety regulations. We reserve the option to reschedule or cancel programs if we are unable to safely serve you.

The Museum is accessible for visitors with special needs. To arrange accommodations for your visit, please contact Diane Watson at (609) 292-5420.

All lunches must be brought – there is no food available to purchase at the Museum.

Lunch bins are available at the main entrance or Planetarium lobby for your group to store lunches and backpacks during your visit. Food and drink, including water bottles, are not permitted in the gallery spaces.

Groups may reserve Riverview Court in advance for brown bag lunches. Contact reservations email njsm.reservations@sos.nj.gov.

Weather permitting, outdoor eating space is available. Picnic tables at the Museum entrance are available on a first come first serve basis. Lawn space is available in front of the Museum, near the Planetarium, or in Capitol Plaza Park located between the State House Annex and the State Library. If you plan to picnic outdoors, please bring blankets for seating and clean up all trash.

Group Payments are required 2 weeks (10 business days) in advance. Groups must pay in one transaction, we do not accept deposits or individual payments. Groups providing a PO within the 2 week deadline will be able to pay in full directly after the field trip date. We accept checks made out to Treasurer, State of New Jersey and mailed to PO Box 530, Trenton NJ 08625 or credit card payment over the phone. We cannot accept credit card payments in person the day of the trip.

Payments MUST be made in full 2 weeks prior to your program date. The Museum reserves the right to cancel non-paid reservations within this 2 week window.

Final head counts, including teachers and chaperones, must be confirmed with the Museum no later than 2 weeks prior to the visit. Refunds will not be issued for decreased attendance; persons added on the day of programs may not be accommodated.

Safety Guidelines
In accordance with the State of New Jersey’s updated guidelines, general masking is not required but recommended based on the CDC’s Community Level data. The Museum’s community is Mercer County.

Guidance for all Community Levels is as follows:

Masks will be available free of charge to both Chaperones and Students upon request.

Please have students organized into groups with chaperones prior to your visit. Your leader should have an accurate count of teachers, students and chaperones, and will be asked to check in at the Information Desk at the main entrance.

Buses must drop off and pick up in front of the Museum on West State Street.

We STRONGLY recommend your group arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of your first activity. This will give you time to check in, drop off lunches and bags in the available bins at the main entrance, and use the restroom.

Planetarium shows begin promptly at the scheduled time; groups arriving late may miss their show. The Museum does its best to accommodate late groups; however, if a conflict with other programs or groups arises, the Museum reserves the right to adjust, change, shorten or cancel the scheduled program. No refunds will be issued for programs missed due to late arrival.

Groups coming from the New Jersey State House tours should allow extra travel time between the Museum and the State House entrance due to ongoing renovations.

Please give a copy of the Bus Map to your driver(s) so they know where to drop off, park and pick up your group.

Buses must park in the lot at the corner of Perry Street and Route 1 (about 1 mile from the Museum).

Metered street parking for cars is available on weekdays, as is parking in paid lots throughout the downtown Trenton area. Limited visitor parking is also available in the State House Parking Garage next door to the Museum with entrances on West State Street.

If your group is coming in separate vehicles, please plan a meeting spot; we suggest the Information desk at the main entrance, or in the Planetarium lobby.

Chaperones are required to remain with their students at all times and are responsible for appropriate behavior.

Leaders should share the day’s learning objectives and itinerary, including program times and locations, with chaperones.

It is the responsibility of the teachers and chaperones to enforce the Museum rules during a visit. These include:

• No food or drinks are allowed in Museum galleries.
• Photography is encouraged; use of flash, tripods, or selfie-sticks is not permitted.
• Use indoor voices and refrain from running in the Museum.
• Students must be accompanied by chaperones at all times.
• Backpacks and large bags must be placed in the bins; small bags may be carried on the chest.
• No touching or writing on artwork, cases or walls in the Museum.